School Teacher and Husband Arrested

School Teacher and husband arrested for Burglary of a Residence, Grand Theft, and Scheming to Defraud in “adverse possession” case

25-year-old Cherie Fields and 27-year-old Owen Fields (husband and wife, both of Lakeland) filed for “adverse possession” on a residence located on Echo Lane (Imperial Lakes) near Lakeland, on March 27, 2013. The residence is valued at over $160,000. Neighbors and witnesses reported seeing a locksmith at the residence in addition to trucks from Rooms-To-Go and Aaron’s Rentals. Owen Wilson activated the electric service at the residence on 03/27/13.

The actual owner of the property was contacted in California and confirmed to investigators that no one had permission to take possession of the residence.

“It is hard to believe that an educated person could believe that you can just walk into someone else’s house, change the locks, and take it from them. I think this couple has learned that stealing is wrong, and that our deputies will enforce the law. Some of life’s best lessons are not learned in the classroom, it seems.” –Grady Judd

Cherie Fields is a school teacher at Fort Meade Middle – Senior High School. Owen Fields is a night auditor at a local motel.

Both were located and arrested late yesterday without incident. Both were transported to the Polk County Jail—they will attend first appearance tomorrow, Friday, May 3.